raku Japanese designed - Napier South

4.9/5 β˜… based on 8 reviews

About raku Japanese designed

A Napier store stocking genuine Japanese-made design-ware is the upshot of owner Aki Ogawa's ongoing love affair with New Zealand.
Aki and husband Kent combine their talents in Raku, the shop they opened recently in Hastings Street.
She has the artistic eye, choosing beautifully crafted goods that include cast-iron teapots, hand-made hemp bags, table napkins, incense, exquisite cards, pottery goblets and strikingly different hairpieces.

Responding to demand, Aki also plans to import kimonos and Japanese fabrics.

The aim, she says, is to offer quality design pieces while keeping prices down. A business and marketing graduate, Kent brings his entrepreneurial flair to the venture, which the couple have named Raku - a traditional method for making Japanese pottery but also a word meaning joy and fun.
Aki first came to New Zealand 11 years ago on an exchange programme to study art at Eastern Institute of Technology.
Her parents agreed to the trip on the proviso that she return home after a year.

During that 12 months, she fell in love with New Zealand, and resolved to live here permanently.

Applying for residency meant returning to Japan first, however, and it was while she was continuing

her art studies at university in Kyoto that she met Kent.

Used to big-city living and shops that stay open well into the night, he wasn't so sure about living in Hawke's Bay but, like Aki, he's finding it a great place to raise their son.

Sixteen months old, Go is well-named - he is constantly on the go in the store, where is parents have provided the toddler with his own play area.
Aki says Go was a kiwi from the start. Even before he was born, he would perform the haka in her womb when she watched the All Blacks on television.
She finds women here are less constrained by gender roles.

In Japan, a married woman is still expected to be a full-time housewife.
Recently, her mother visited but was only able to stay five days before returning home to work.
"She may get quite a lot of money, but when you look at the quality of life it is just different here,"

says Aki.


Hawkes Bay Today 28th MAY 2005

Contact raku Japanese designed

Address :

raku Japanese designed 269 Emerson Street, Napier South, Napier 4110, New Zealand

Phone : πŸ“ž +8989
Postal code : 4110
Website : http://www.raku.co.nz/
Categories :

raku Japanese designed 269 Emerson Street, Napier South, Napier 4110, New Zealand
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Marilyn Mackinnon on Google

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I loved this shop. A great range of stock
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Carlos on Google

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Authentic Japanese store, it feels like to be back in Japan.
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Janneke J on Google

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Love this shop. Exactly like in Japan. Heaps of cat things <3
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HBBornand Proud on Google

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Kento is very helpful and has fantastic knowledge on products in his store.
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David Pimborough on Google

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Every time I visit Napier I always make a point of visiting the Raku shop as the staff are wonderful and the selection of items is excellent. I love the little Japanese nick nacks they sell. It's a wonderful place for unusual and stylish little gifts with prices to match all pockets.
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Benedict Uy on Google

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Quite an interesting shop to look around in. Quite a lot of Japanese items so they are quite different from other places. There is also a range of different things from toys to crockery. Worth a visit just to look around.
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jane keeling on Google

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Raku is a wonderful store. I could not be happier with the beautiful goods I purchased. Authentic, high quality and unique. The service I received from Kent was outstanding. I purchased on the weekend and my treasures arrived in Auckland today in immaculate condition, they were so carefully packed. THANK YOU RAKU ?
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Yen Zen Huang on Google

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Decent store with genuine imported Japanese merchandises. They have an online store so do check it out if you are interested.

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